Talk to me about how you handle vacations

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MindyC

MindyC

Member Since 2019
Max was re-diagnosed with diabetes last week. Clearly we don't have his sugar regulated yet, but we are scheduled to be on vacation in a month. We'll be gone for 10 days. My mom usually is the one to come over daily and give the kitties some love (dogs are kenneled) and fill the feeder for the next 24 hours. When I talked to her the other day about giving shots, she seemed a bit squeamish and rather put out that she'd have to come over every 12 hours. I wasn't even asking her to test him, just give him his shot (which we all know is the easy part!).

I'm going to try to find someone to pet/house sit, but it's a long shot that I can find someone who can stay here for 10 days, watch all the animals, and reliably feed/dose the cat. He can't come with us--traveling is a disaster for him (kenneling wouldn't be any better), and either of those options very well might kill him due to stress. He's 17 and has entered the 'cranky old man stage' of his life.

How do you all handle being on vacation? We've been planning this one for a year, cancelling it isn't really an option.
 
Oh, and I have to mention that we live in a very small town--there is only 1 stoplight. We're 45 minutes from anything city-like. My options for house or pet sitters are pretty slim.
 
I had to go away for 4 days in January. I would never have trusted someone to come in and give Zoe her shots because she would probably not have it, plus I would have worried the whole time I was gone. So I chose to kennel her at the vet. It was an expense but I had to do it. 10 days is a long time though and would be quite expensive. (not sure what a pet sitter would cost in comparison) It cost me about $150. I wish I had better advice for you. I suppose since you have a month to plan you could work with your mom or family member to learn to give the shots.
 
Our secondary vet boards diabetics. I gave them a brief but strongly worded page of what I expected (including end of life terms) and he came home fine. If you go this route don't just accept yes and no as answers, make them show you. Remember it may not be the vet who does the testing and dosing so it's your right to demand a demonstration.
 
I was lucky enough to have a friend willing to learn to test and give insulin. We started training well in advance of my departure so everyone including kitty felt comfortable with the situation. The last thing you want is for your cat to be hiding and the sitter can't find them. I left a novel of instructions but also kept in touch so I didn't feel so out of control and my friend didn't feel she had to make decisions she didn't feel qualified to make.

Do you have any friends or neighbours nearby who might be willing to help out? Any older teenagers or college age folks who might want to earn a few bucks and learn a new skill. I take it there is no vet clinic in your town......sometimes the vet techs will take on side jobs of pet sitting.

Usually folks reduce the dose of insulin while away just in case kitty is not eating as they usually do, going to be alone for extended periods and if testing is not being done.
 
Thanks, everyone. Yes, we're in a somewhat remote area. No neighbors that I would trust to make sure he got his food and meds on the right schedule, and the vet we use is 25 minutes away. Boarding him is not an option, I'm pretty sure the stress alone would kill him. He doesn't travel well at all anymore. We've used college kids in the past to house/pet sit, but it's been probably 7 or 8 years since the last time we did that, so we don't have anyone easy to call. I'm hoping I can convince my mom to handle the shots--they really aren't that hard. But I'm fairly certain no one will be willing to learn to test him; I have a hard time getting my husband to do that too. I'm glad to hear, Linda, that I'm not the only one considering reducing his dose while we're gone and he's mostly unsupervised, as that was my go-to thought.
 
We have 2 people come in twice a day, one friend feeds, scoops, plays/visits; and we pay another who is a vet tech from our clinic takes care of meds. We have numbers for each cat that Cassie reduces or doesn't shoot at and she also texts if anyone is questionable.
 
Melanie and Smokey said:
We have 2 people come in twice a day, one friend feeds, scoops, plays/visits; and we pay another who is a vet tech from our clinic takes care of meds.
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This sounds like a really good idea. But do the two of them time their visits so that the diabetic kitties gets their insulin before they eat? Is BG tested before meals?
 
MindyC said:
I'm glad to hear, Linda, that I'm not the only one considering reducing his dose while we're gone and he's mostly unsupervised, as that was my go-to thought.
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Jack was recently diagnosed, and I've been thinking about this for the last couple of weeks. I have a sister who lives a 7-hour drive away, and I like to visit her yearly. And I have another sister who lives a couple hours away, and I usually like to spend a weekend or two there every year. I really don't know what other options I would have, other than to just have Jack receive his shot without being tested. I had a diabetic cat before, who died five years ago, and I never ever tested her. Her vet didn't mention it, I didn't research it, and I can't believe that I blindly shot her for 5 years. When I took a vacation during that time I had a friend who would come in and take care of her, including giving her her insulin. I know I could depend on him again, but I don't think he would be comfortable monitoring the blood glucose. And even if he were willing, I don't think I would be comfortable allowing him to do it. Jack is a shy cat, and I don't think he would take well to anybody else handling him. He was abused before I got him, and it took a very long time for him to become as trusting as he is now. I think lowering his dose and not having him tested may be my only option. If he stayed anywhere else during that time, I'm not sure if he could survive that.
 
The saying around here is better too high for a few days than too low for a moment. Even when testing is being done, the dose is usually lowered because with less household activity, often our kitties don't eat the same and their activity level is likewise not the same as when we are home with them.
When my friend was looking after my sugar girl, I reduced the dose despite knowing she would be tested before her shots because I have 3 kitties and could not guarantee that extra food left out for grazing was not going to be devoured by her brothers and unavailable to her should she need it.
 
I stopped all travel when Mia was diagnosed because she is a scaredy cat mama's baby and would stroke out if she was taken on a trip or left somewhere for boarding. I have done every test and given every shot myself even though I have a husband. That is how much of a mama's baby she is. I have something coming up in June that will require me to be gone for a few days, and I am hoping she will miraculously go into remission for me right before then. :) If she does not, I have not decided for sure how I will handle it. If her numbers stay as stable as they have for a long while now, I may take a chance on letting her go without shots... or I may start working with her and my husband to get to the point that he can at least give her a shot with a token dose. He and I have no plans of taking any joint trips anytime soon since, if I HAVE to go somewhere, I at least want him here to keep their world as normal as possible and keep an eye on them. My sister used to check on them each day when we traveled, but there is no way Mia is letting my sister pet her, much less stick her... besides, there are also the issues of them getting fed 4 times a day now and Willow getting pills twice a day at which time they are used to getting shredded chicken breast. SPOILED!

I think you need to work on your mom. She sounds like the best bet for giving reduced dose shots while you are gone.
 
I am going away for 12 days at the end of March/beginning of April My boyfriend is thankfully only working 4 of the days that I will be away. My grumpy old man is comfortable enough with him that my boyfriend can burrito him after giving him some cat nip and check his levels. I have shown him how to check his levels and how to shoot him. I have written out specific instructions on his feedings, blood checkings and shots. What numbers are ideal and what he should not shoot at. We also have a friend who lives a block away who is willing to help come check on him and see if he needs food throughout the day which is awesome. But all in all it's about clear instructions and having someone you can trust.
 
I feel you about boarding not being an option. For me, it's not the expense, it's how difficult my cat is. There is mutual terror by the cat and by the vet techs, and that's not good for anyone. And having someone come over exactly 12 hours apart is a definite hardship. Perhaps your Mom could sleep at your house to make it easier on her? In the end of the day, you can only do your best. The kind people on here can give you advice on the best dosage depending on what your Mom is willing to do.

Fingers crossed, perhaps once the infection is cleared, he will go back into remission.
 
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